A closet is valuable real estate in any space, especially in an apartment or smaller home. A typical closet might come with a rod and a shelf on top for hanging clothes and extra storage, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it that way. Take an entryway closet, for example. In many spaces, it can become a mess if it is assigned as the random storage closet. Over time, it can become loaded up with everything from coats and boots to the vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies! Some items hang on the rod while smaller items are on the shelf on top. Often times, though, the area at the bottom of the closet is a free-for-all! The best solution to avoid this issue is to figure out what you need a particular closet to do for you. Make the closet work for you instead of the other way around!
An entryway closet is the perfect space to tweak in order to satisfy your storage needs. In this case, the closet was the space used for school backpacks, cleaning supplies, electronics, power cords, shopping bags, brooms and the vacuum. Since the contents were all across the board, this closet needed some extra structural pieces to help it make sense. With the addition of some wall hooks and a storage unit, all the chaos was brought under control, making the busy closet a clean and organized place.
The Room Essentials 6-Cube Organizer and four fabric-covered bins with lids were purchased from Target. Each bin was given a job with the use of a ceramic label tag and a dry erase marker. Labels that are easy to change are a key ingredient to a well-used closet. Today that box might be used for chargers and electronics. Tomorrow you might need it for pet supplies. Labels are also a great way to let everyone in the family know what goes where!
The two bottom cubbies in the organizer were left open for larger items: in this case, craft and cleaning supplies. Larger cleaning supplies, such as the vacuum cleaner and brooms, were placed on either side of the cubby organizer. They are easy to get to but not the main focal point once the closet door is opened.
Since this closet was also used as the backpack parking spot, two hooks were placed on the wall on top of the cubby organizer. A dedicated location for school backpacks means the kids are more apt to pitch in and put their bags away rather than leave them sitting in the hallway!
Adding function doesn’t mean you should forgo some style! Insert your personality into your closet makeover as well, since you want to like what you look at. There are a number of ways to infuse your own style in your closet. Use bins or boxes covered with your favorite fabric. Add some decorative hardware with the use of adhesive hooks. You could even install some temporary wallpaper!
Finding creative storage solutions is an important part of making your home work for you. Regardless of how a closet starts out, you can add a temporary solution, such as a cubby organizer, to get the best possible use out of it. Apply the same rules to any closet and it can quickly become your hardest-working space!